Jen sprang onto the disk Kat had conjured and they flew away just ahead of a blast of hellfire that would have turned them to cinders. She hated retreating, hated giving ground to the enemy without making them bleed for it. But as Kat and Marie-Bell said, there was no way they could fight flying enemies in such numbers. Not if they wanted to survive.

A stream of hellfire narrowly missed them as they passed over the second wall and zoomed toward the third. Marie-Bell raised a holy shield just in time to protect them from a pair of converging blasts. The black flames splashed over the shield, causing it to tremble.

Kat put on a burst of speed, but the demons kept up easily. It was lucky they had a head start, otherwise they would have been caught by now. The third wall came and went. The fortress was in sight now. Once they got inside it would be close-quarters fighting: dirty, ugly, close-up killing. She doubted the three of them would last long in that sort of battle against demons. This bunch looked designed for close combat.

More hellfire streaked by, some Kat dodged and some splashed against Marie-Bell’s shield. Jen felt useless in a fight like this. It wasn’t like she could throw her sword at the demons and even if she did she only had one. She had to count on her companions to keep them safe for a few more seconds then run like hell for the fortress gate. How long a wooden door would last against eighteen demons Jen couldn’t say, but she’d feel better to have it between them for however many seconds it lasted.

Kat landed ten feet from the door and the instant she did Jen sprinted for it at warlord speed. She yanked it open and held it for the others. A burst of hellfire blackened the stone over her head. Jen wasn’t certain if the demons were poor shots or if they were toying with her. If it was the latter she’d do her best to make them regret their arrogance.

Kat went through first followed by Marie-Bell. Jen slipped inside and slammed the heavy door shut. While Jen hunted for a bar Marie-Bell placed her hands on the door. White light filtered through her fingers and glowing runes appeared on the door. It swelled in place, seeming to become part of the frame.

When Marie-Bell stepped back Jen asked, “What did you do?”

“When this place was built the founders wove holy wards into the stone as well as all the openings. While no one believed a force could make it past the walls, the first paladins were nothing if not thorough. They knew if catastrophe should strike and they had to fall back to the keep it would be the worst possible scenario so they reserved the most power for the protection of the fortress itself. Our enemies will find it no easy feat to gain entrance.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“So we’re stuck buying time again,” Jen said. “I guess it could be worse.”

“Sure.” Kat slumped against the wall. “We could be dead.”

Jen walked past the exhausted sorcerer and patted her shoulder. “That’s the spirit. How’s your apprentice?”

Kat closed her eyes and her brow furrowed. “Alive, but still unconscious. The urn really messed her up. Still, she doesn’t have any physical damage so in time she’ll recover.”

Kat didn’t add “hopefully,” but Jen heard it in her tone. Despite their disagreements, she clearly cared about the younger woman. Jen hoped they lived long enough to see Amanda wake up.

An explosion rocked the fortress. That hadn’t taken long. “Is there somewhere we can watch what they’re doing?” Jen asked.

“We can peek out one of the second-floor arrow slits.” Marie-Bell led the way to the nearby stairs. Kat heaved herself up and followed along behind Jen.

“Where did you leave Amanda?” Jen asked.

“I put her in the first bed I found on the first floor. It was a good-sized room, lots of weapons on the wall.”

“That’s Commander Kendy’s room,” Marie-Bell said. “I polished those weapons once a week for five years before I was chosen.”

“Any of them enchanted?” If the paladins kept holy weapons in the fortress they’d give Jen a better chance if any demons made it inside.

“They’re just plain steel, sorry. The commander carried our last holy sword. Before that we had a suit of armor and a great sword, but long ago a hero of the Order took them and marched alone into the haunted lands. She never returned. Every so often one of the new paladins quests to recover the relics, but none have ever been seen again.”

They reached the first arrow slit and gathered around to look out. Massive winged demons soared past. They shot bursts of hellfire seemingly at random. A demon that resembled a humanoid toad must have noticed them. It spat hellfire at the arrow slit. Jen flinched back. The black flames splashed against an invisible barrier and dissipated.

“Can I attack through that?” Kat asked.

Marie-Bell nodded. “The barrier only blocks corrupt energy.”

“Good.”

Kat raised her hand and sent a golden blast streaking at the toad demon. The attack struck it square in the chest and sent it tumbling through the sky. A snap of its wings brought the demon back under control. It flew off, seeming none the worse for wear.

“Damn it!” Kat lowered her hand. “What’s it take to kill one of those things? How’d your brother do it?”

Jen shrugged. She had no idea how Damien did half the things he did. “He wrapped it up in a giant golden serpent then made it explode. When he finished there was nothing left.”

“Look!” Marie-Bell pointed out beyond the kingdom-side wall.

Jen enhanced her sight. “It’s the eastern army. Heaven’s mercy. If they didn’t bring extra sorcerers with them it’ll be a slaughter.”

“They did,” Kat said.

Jen cranked her neck up. Flying above the army were fifty sorcerers led by the archmage herself. Some of the tension drained out of Jen. Maybe they’d live through this after all.